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Additional Pacific Health Project Grant awarded
Trinity College — October 16, 2023
We are please to announce funding for an additional HRC 2023 Pacific Health Project Grant.
2023 Pacific Health Project Grant
Dr Nasili Vaka'uta, Trinity Methodist Theological College
36 months, $1,171,446
The Lotu factor: Delusional religiosity, COVID-19 and Tongan wellbeing in New Zealand.
Lay Summary:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, health professionals encountered some objections and resistance from Pacific communities. One of the strongest (yet ignored) factors behind the resistance was people's illusionary lotu (faith/religion) or 'delusional religiosity' (i.e religious beliefs and practices with no link to reality or facts). Delusional religiosity is a 'pandemic' in its own way, and it had the propensity to harm people with its toxic and life-negating orientation. The overall aim of this project is to explore the impact of delusional religiosity on the health and wellbeing of Pacific peoples with a particular focus on Tongans.
Central to the project is the question: what impact does delusional religiosity have on the wellbeing of Tongans in New Zealand?
To answer this question, this project with employ a qualitative approach to data collection and analysis.
